U.S. patent number 4,580,363 [Application Number 06/660,034] was granted by the patent office on 1986-04-08 for holder for a magazine for a firearm.
Invention is credited to Charles E. Rowe, Jr..
United States Patent |
4,580,363 |
Rowe, Jr. |
April 8, 1986 |
Holder for a magazine for a firearm
Abstract
A multiple catch for different magazines for firearms, so that
magazines of various manufacturers can be used in a single gun.
Inventors: |
Rowe, Jr.; Charles E. (Weston,
MA) |
Family
ID: |
24647850 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/660,034 |
Filed: |
October 12, 1984 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/18; 42/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A
17/38 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
17/00 (20060101); F41A 17/38 (20060101); F41C
025/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;42/6,7,18,22,49A,50
;124/45 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jordan; Charles T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fay; Charles R.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a firearm, a magazine holder, a detachable magazine having a
holding notch, a spring biased magazine catch actuation member on
the holder for engagement of the magazine holding notch on the
detachable magazine,
said catch actuation member being manually retractable to release
the notch and comprising at least two relatively independent
catches, a separate spring biassing means for each of said
catches,
the catch actuating member movably mounting both catches separately
with their spring biassing means, spring biassing means for the
catch actuating member for simultaneous retraction of both
catches,
said catches being mounted to move in a direction at an angle to
the motion of the magazine to seat it in the holder, at least one
catch coiniciding with the notch in seated condition of the
magazine whereby one catch will engage the magazine holding
notch.
2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the force of the spring biassing
means for the catch actuating member is great enough to overcome
the total force of all the separate spring biassing means for the
catches.
3. The firearm of claim 1 including a cam surface on at least one
catch for retracting it upon motion of the magazine in one
direction in the holder.
4. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the spring biassing means for the
catches comprises a separate spring for each catch.
5. The firearm of claim 1 including manually operable means to
retract said catch actuating member.
6. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the catches are interchangeable
with like catches of varied projection and size.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the case of automatic and semi-automatic weapons, a detachable
magazine is ordinarily used, and this magazine is of course changed
when it runs out of ammunition to a fresh full magazine.
Ordinarily, there is a notch on the magazine and a spring biased
catch of some kind on the magazine holder or guide box so that when
the magazine is slapped into the holder, it automatically latches;
when empty, the catch is manually retracted against its spring.
Different manufacturers place the magazine holding notch at
distances from the firing chamber so that the spring biased
magazine catch will not snap into the magazine holding notch unless
the catch and notch coincide with the magazine in firing position.
Therefore, each manufacturer requires that a user for the firearm
will have to use the magazine of the manufacturer, even though two
different magazines are otherwise alike and can be interchangeably
used except for this feature.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a magazine
latching and release member which is multiple in a direction
parallel to the direction of the magazine insertion and retraction
from the magazine holder so that different magazines, regardless of
manufacture, may be used in a single weapon having the holder of
this invention. This is particularly useful in police weapons such
as sub-machine guns and machine pistols.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present case, it may be assumed that the magazine has a
simple notch in it to automatically receive a magazine holding
catch on the magazine holder. The catch is spring biased and
automatically snaps into the magazine notch to hold the magazine in
firing position. In this case, the catch is manually operated for
retracting it to allow the magazine to be extracted and it is
multiple; i.e., it has a least two and possibly a series of spring
biased plungers which are all mounted on a single operative member
so that when this member is retracted, whatever plunger happens to
have locked the magazine in place, is retracted therefrom along
with the others. In other words, a single magazine holder may be
made to accept two or more different manufacturers' automatic or
semi-automatic firearm magazines without having to associate one
manufacture's magazine with the same manufacturer's firearm. In the
case of police work especially this is a very advantageous factor.
It is sometimes desirable to have weapons made by different
manufacturers, and therefore this invention is to provide for the
use of different manufacturers' magazines in different
manufacturers' weapons without stopping to see whether or not the
magazine have the holding notches in correct alignment with the
spring biased catch of the firearm in use.
This invention will be seen to be directed to the magazine and the
magazine holder of a firearm more or less regardless of the other
characteristics of the firearm and whether it be automatic or
semi-automatic or even a manual operation repeater.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of the magazine holder in section with no
magazine;
FIG. 2 is a like view with one magazine;
FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2 with a different magazine; and
FIG. 4 is a like view with all catches in release position.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Only so much of the construction is shown as will clearly describe
the invention, and it is pointed out that cartridge magazines are
per se old and well known, and that they have a wedge shaped nose
with an opening for insertion and passage of the cartridges. This
shaped end of the magazine retracts the usual magazine holding
catch as is well known to cause it to lock the magazine in firing
position. This is also the case herein.
The holder or guide box has walls 10 and 12, among others, and
these walls are of course fixed relative to the receiver of the
weapon as usual. The wall 10 may be apertured at 14 for the sliding
reception of the catch actuator 16 which has a bias to the left
under the action of spring 18. The actuator also has an end
abutment 20 to the right of wall 12, the actuator passing through a
part of the holder as at 22, but with clearance to allow the entry
and abstraction of the magazines through the bottom of the holder,
in the usual manner.
A fixed portion of the holder or other support at 24 slidably
supports the catches, at least two in number, and these are
indicated at 26 and 28. Each has a separate biasing spring 30 and
32 acting between the abutment 20 and the enlarged stops 34 and 36
at the respective bases of the catches so that the catches are seen
to be equally resiliently urged to the left but stopped as in FIG.
1 by impingement of stops 34 and 36 against support 24. Thus the
catches, regardless of number, are movable together by the actuator
or separately by the magazine, see FIGS. 2 and 3. Catch 28, the
lower catch herein, has a cam surface or chamfer 38 at its lower
edge.
When the magazine is slid up into the magazine holder or guide box,
the various catches or plungers are retracted automatically by the
magazine itself to allow the magazine to pass and to become fully
seated with the appropriate catch projected into its corresponding
notch to latch the magazine in operative relation to the firing
chamber of the respective weapon. To free the magazine and extract
it, it is only necessary to press the magazine catch actuator,
retracting both or all the catches simultaneously. The magazine can
then be pulled out while the catches are thus retracted. Once the
magazine is past the plungers on its outward travel, the actuator
can be manually released and the free ends of the catches will
simply ride on the magazine with no interference.
The cam or chamfer 38 on the lower catch is only necessary to allow
the slot 40 of magazine B to pass it without catching, see FIG. 3.
There is no problem with magazine A as its slot 42 will not reach
catch 26.
Catches 26 are interchangeable with like catches with different
sizes of or positioned extensions to accommodate further different
firearm magazines.
* * * * *